Lifting device for knitted items constructed on a circular machine

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a device for lifting the knitted item made on a circular knitting machine for knitwear and hosiery. It includes a lifting pipe  15  coaxial inside the cylinder, rotating with this, moveable in height between a lowered position and a raised position and one bearing a summit bell  16  with a flared lip  19,  which extends above the internal sinker crown to the close vicinity of the needs and which has radial slits  20  in line with the sinkers. The pipe with the summit bell is raised from the lowered position by dedicated control means to raise the item, also close to the needs to be picked.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention concerns circular machines for knitwear and hosiery and refers especially to a device for raising a knitted item after it has been made, when it is taken from the needles and transferred by handling it out of the machine, for example to be able to effect the toe closing operation in the case of socks.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Some circular machines for knitwear and hosiery employed for making knitted items to be taken and transferred out of the machine for successive complementary operations are equipped inside with a cylinder and a tube with summit flaring to receive the item as it being made by the needles. The tube can move vertically inside the cylinder to raise the item once finished, according to need, so that it can be taken close to the needles, taken off and removed above the cylinder with a suitable and anyway known of handling device. The flaring of the lifting pipe extends partially above the internal guide crown of the sinkers but cannot come close to the needles so as not to interfere with the sinkers when these are moving radially. In other words, the flared part of the pipe always remains at a distance from the needles and the closest part of the knitted item does not find any support on the pipe flaring. In this condition, when the tube is raised up it cannot completely and reliably raise the item so that it can be correctly and securely taken by the transfer device.

PURPOSE AND REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The purpose of this invention is therefore that of supplying a circular machine for knitwear and hosiery in which the operation of lifting the knitted item always takes place correctly and securely.

[0004] Another purpose of the invention is of offering a circular machine in which the knitted item is lifted from the knitting formation plane also by its parts closest to the needles for reliable picking.

[0005] These purposes are achieved in a circular machine with a lifting device for the knitted item which includes a lifting pipe located in the cylinder, rotating together with this, adjustable in height and fitted with a summit bell with a flared lip which extends above the internal small sinker crown, as far as the circumference of the needles and which is provided with radial slits corresponding to the sinkers.

[0006] Such a system permits the knitted item to rest on the flaring of the bell, whilst is it is knitted and to be raised on completion also in its part closest to the needles. On the other hand, the radial slits of the bell's flared lip permit correct sinker movement, avoiding interference with the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Further details of the invention are more evident following a description made with reference to the enclosed, indicative but not limiting drawings, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows the section of the summit portion of a circular machine cylinder for knitting according to the invention; and

[0009]FIG. 2 shows an aerial view of the knitting lifting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In the said drawings of a circular machine for knitwear of the type considered, a cylinder 10, with needles 11 and sinkers 12 located radially around the summit of the cylinder are represented, supported by an external crown 13 and an internal crown 13 guiding their radial-horizontal movements.

[0011] According to the invention, inside the cylinder 11 and coaxial to the same there is a pipe 15 which can be moved in height between a lowered position and a raised one, ending at the top with a bell 16, The bell 16 and the pipe 15, rotate together with the internal sinker crown 14 to which they are constrained by at least one rotation drive pin. This pin 17 engages in a corresponding vertical slit 18 which permits the height movements of the bell 16

[0012] When the pipe 15 is raised and lowered through an appropriate control device, not worthy of particular attention here.

[0013] The bell has an upper flared lip 19 which extends above the small internal crown of the sinkers close to needles 11 on the cylinder. The flared lip has radial slits 20 around the periphery corresponding to the sinkers—FIG. 2—so as to permit the radial movements of these without interference.

[0014] The pipe 15 with the bell 16 which can move in height and rotate can be placed outside an internal pipe 21 which has a summit flare that coincides with the flared lip 19 of the bell when this is in the lowered position. The internal pipe 21 can be rotating or non-rotating, is fixed in height and is destined to receive the knitted item as it is gradually constructed.

[0015] In practice, as the knitting progresses it rests on the flared lip 19 of the bell I6 and passes into the internal pipe without impediment. Once the item is completed the external pipe 15 is lifted up, with a consequent upwards movement of the bell and which also raises the knitted item including its parts closest to the needles, permitting its secure grasp for the picking and following handling. 

1. A lifting device for the knitted item made on a circular machine for knitwear and hosiery which includes a cylinder with needles and a series of sinkers located around the summit of the cylinder, supported by an external crown and an internal guide crown and where the item is lifted up to be grasped, picked and removed above the cylinder, characterised by a coaxial lifting pipe 15, located inside the cylinder, rotating with this, moveable in height between a lowered position and a raised position and carrying a summit bell 16 with a flared lip 19 extending above the internal crown of the sinkers very close to the needles and which presents radial slits 20, corresponding to the sinkers; the lifting pipe with the summit bell are raised from the lowered position with dedicated control devices to raise the knitted item, also adjacently to the needles for picking.
 2. A device according to claim 1 in which the said bell 16 is constrained to rotate with the internal sinker crown by at least one drive pin 17, passing through a longitudinal slit made in the bell, permitting this to move in height.
 3. A device according to claims 1 and 2 in which the flared lip 19 of the said bell is brought close to the internal sinker crown when the lifting pipe is in the lowered position and constitutes a support and sliding plane for the knitted item.
 4. A device according to the previous claims in which the said lifting pipe with the said summit bell are located around an internal pipe 21, destined to receive the item being made; this internal pipe, being fixed in height, rotating or non-rotating and having a flared summit which corresponds with the flared lip of the bell when this is in the lowered position. 